"I'm sorry, young lady, but this will be your room from now on." Lucy apologized.
Anastasia silently surveyed the room, her gaze trailing over the worn wooden beams and dusty corners.
"This place hasn't changed at all." she murmured.
Lucy's brows furrowed in confusion.
"Young lady?" she called, but Anastasia didn't immediately respond.
For a split second, Lucy thought she noticed a brief flicker of coldness in her expression. But just as quickly, Anastasia's face softened into a bright smile, making Lucy question whether she had only imagined it.
"It's okay, Lucy. I actually like this room a lot! Unlike my old chamber in the palace, this one is cleaner-and it's much closer to Father and my brothers!" Anastasia said cheerfully.
Lucy's frown deepened. There it was again-that unsettling contrast creeping into her chest. She had noticed it before, but now it felt even clearer.
She couldn't explain it, but there were moments when Anastasia seemed far too mature for her age-yet still innocent at the same time. And today, despite her bright smile, there was something about her that felt... different.
Almost as if she had momentarily reverted to a more mature version of herself.
"Don't worry, young lady. Next time, I'll speak with the head maid again to get you a better room than this." Lucy assured her.
Unlike before, the room now looked a little more welcoming-at least after Lucy had spent hours cleaning it on her own.
Not a single maid had helped her, and why would they? She was the last one left in Lady Anastasia's service. The others had been dismissed by Henry, and if not for Lady Anastasia's direct intervention, she would have been sent away as well.
"I'm really okay, Lucy-Grrrwwlll..."
Lucy and Anastasia exchanged glances before Lucy chuckled.
"Are you hungry, my lady?"
Anastasia pouted and nodded repeatedly.
Lucy gently patted Anastasia's head, a fond smile tugging at her lips. She found her very adorable-and yet, she couldn't help but pity her at the same time.
Flor had warned her not to take Lady Anastasia outside during the duke and the young masters' mealtimes, so she had no choice but to wait until they were finished before taking Anastasia downstairs to eat.
Flor had also given her a long list of restrictions regarding Anastasia.
She was not to appear before the duke or the young masters unless they specifically summoned her.
She was not allowed to wander the gardens, particularly near the late duchess's glasshouse or any of her favorite spots.
She was banned from stepping foot on the floors where the rest of the Winston family resided and was forbidden from making her presence known to visitors.
In short, Anastasia's movements were so restricted that it felt as though they wanted to confine her to the attic permanently.
"Uhm... wait here. I'll talk to the head maid first to see if you're allowed to eat now, so don't leave your room, okay?"
Anastasia eagerly nodded, and with that, Lucy hurried out to find any servant willing to give them food.
As soon as Lucy left, Anastasia absentmindedly stepped out of her room.
She wandered down the dimly lit hallway, her feet carrying her toward the staircase leading to the next floor.
Just as she reached the landing, she suddenly froze.
Lucy's words echoed in her mind.
A strange awareness washed over her as she glanced around, her pulse quickening. She had no idea why she was here, nor did she recall making the conscious decision to leave her room.
It was as if something unseen had urged her to wander-like an invisible force pulling her forward.
The floor she found herself on was shrouded in darkness, yet oddly, it felt... familiar. She had never been here before, and yet, she knew this place.
"What are you doing here?"
A cold voice sliced through the silence.
Anastasia flinched, her body tensing as she whipped around.
In the darkness, the only thing visible was a pair of piercing emerald eyes staring directly at her.
"Aaaaahhh! G-Ghost!"
Without a second thought, she turned and bolted, her heart hammering wildly in her chest as she ran blindly through the corridor.
The figure was quick to chase after her, forcing her to dart into one of the nearby rooms.
Like the hallway, the room was shrouded in darkness, but she had no time to care. Without hesitation, she dropped to the floor and scrambled under the bed, pressing a hand over her mouth to stifle her breathing.
Her heart pounded against her ribs as she listened intently.
Just then, voices echoed from just outside the door.
"Hey, Lion, what are you doing here?"
Anastasia's eyes widened slightly. The voice was familiar-one of the young masters Lucy had mentioned. Her brothers.
"I'm chasing a rat that somehow made its way onto this floor."
"A rat? W-wait, there's a rat in here?!"
The second voice held a mix of alarm and disgust.
Anastasia, still hidden beneath the bed, stiffened.
...A rat?
Her stomach twisted in fear. She was terrified of rats.
A cold shiver ran down her spine as her imagination ran wild. What if it was right beside her?
Slowly, she pressed her lips together, trying her best not to make a sound. She didn't know what was worse: getting caught by her brothers or the horrifying possibility that a rat was lurking just inches away from her.
"Yes, and it's wearing a rag."
"A rat wearing a rag? What do you mean? Is there even such a thing?"
"Tsk, you're such a slowpoke. Anyway, I'm going to my room. If you see any pests wandering around the hallway, just shoo them away. They don't belong here."
"Huh... you're weird. But wait! Did you talk to Father about not letting that small pumpkin stay in our manor?"
Their voices grew quieter, but since the door to the room was slightly ajar, she could still hear their conversation.
"Yes. But he just chased me out. He told me not to mind her and to just let her stay in the house for now. He probably just doesn't want some rumors to spread among the nobles-that's why he took her in temporarily."
"So that means she won't be staying here for long?"
"Exactly. That kid probably won't last here for long, so just let her be until she decides to leave on her own."
Anastasia didn't know whether to cover her ears, just as Lucy always told her to do whenever she heard unpleasant things.
She understood clearly that those words were meant for her.
She didn't know why they spoke about her like that. She couldn't grasp their reasons.
But there was one thing she did understand.
Her chest tightened painfully, as if her heart had already grown used to hearing such words.
-----
Meanwhile...
"Lady Anastasia!" Lucy cried out the moment she realized Anastasia was no longer in her room.
Her chest tightened. She had only gone downstairs for a moment to get her some food-how could Anastasia have disappeared so quickly?
Frantic, she hurried through the corridors, her heart pounding with every step. It wasn't until she turned a corner that she finally spotted her, standing alone in the dim light.
Lucy exhaled sharply, relief flooding her for a brief moment before worry took over again.
She rushed to Anastasia's side, gripping her by the shoulders.
"Where did you go?! Didn't I tell you not to leave your room?!" she scolded, her voice rising in panic. "What if someone saw you?"
She hurriedly checked Anastasia from head to toe, making sure nothing had happened to her.
But then, she froze.
Instead of the usual mischievous or curious expression, Anastasia looked... heartbroken.
Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her lips trembling as if she were struggling to hold them back. It was such a rare sight that Lucy felt an immediate pang in her chest.
"W-what's wrong, my lady? Did... did someone do something to you?" Lucy's fists clenched.
Anastasia hesitated before whispering, "Lucy... am I a rat?"
Lucy blinked in confusion. "A rat?"
"Do I look like a walking rag? A small pumpkin?"
"W-what?"
"Do I... deserve to be here?"
At that moment, Anastasia's tears finally spilled down her cheeks, and Lucy's heart shattered completely.
She immediately understood what had happened-Anastasia must have overheard the young masters talking about her.
Without a second thought, Lucy pulled her into a tight embrace, gently wiping away the tears streaming down her face. She wasn't used to seeing Anastasia so vulnerable, and it pained her deeply.
Seeing her like this made Lucy want to cry, too.
"Yes... y-you deserve to be here because you are a Winston. No matter what they say, no matter how much they insist that you don't belong, always remember this-you have done nothing wrong. If there is anyone who loved you with all their heart, it was the late Duchess-your mother. And me... I will always be here for you, just as she was."
"So please, my lady, smile. I don't want to see you cry."
Slowly, even though it felt forced, Anastasia tried to smile.
She didn't understand why, but her tears wouldn't stop. It was as if they were drawn from a place deep inside her-a sorrow she couldn't name.
Her smile wavered... then faded for no reason at all.